Apple TV 2 but with no internet

[Peter Harrison]

Firstly, I know the Apple TV isn't as great without the internet. No Youtube, MobileMe, Netflix and all that. And especially, no renting off movies and TV shows.

When I go home, I have full internet access and all these features will be used. But right now at university all I have is an ethernet cable which will only allow a registered computer to get online (software is installed on the computer to make it work). So, my Apple TV is internet-less. That doesn't actually bother me too much. The real seller for me was that I could magically make my movie playing on my iPad jump to the TV, and with no cables. At the moment I grab my laptop, disconnect it from everything, move it across the room, connect it all up to the TV and then watch a film. To do this kind of thing wirelessly is what I really wanted. I'm aware I need to wait for OS 4.2 before I can do this with the iPad. In the meantime, I want to give it a go with my MBP.

Remember, I don't have the internet for my Apple TV. Is this a problem considering all I want to do is stream from the macbook? I've turned the ATV on, but when I try to activate Home Sharing, it never finds the network connection I've created with my Mac ("Create Network" from Airport menu at the top). It asks for my Apple ID and password I used for the Home Sharing. I type this perfectly but it says it can't find that ID. Is it looking online for it? Can I not stream at all without being online?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Willis]

What uni are you at?

For example, I couldn't use the iPhones remote app with my iTunes on the Halls wireless network. So instead, I used an airport extreme connected via ethernet in my room and had my devices connect to my own network instead.

You should be able to do the same

 

[Peter Harrison]

What uni are you at?

For example, I couldn't use the iPhones remote app with my iTunes on the Halls wireless network. So instead, I used an airport extreme connected via ethernet in my room and had my devices connect to my own network instead.

You should be able to do the same

St Andrews, UK. I have an Airport Express but never brought it with me as I was told it wouldn't work as the network would recognise such a device was being used. I'll give it a go though, I'll bring it here next time I'm at home.

So forgetting the internet entirely, I can't just choose "Create Network..." on my Mac and stream audio/video to my new ATV? Do you think AirPlay for the iPad will work the same way? No streaming unless everything is on a network. I liked the idea of just wirelessly connected the iPad and the ATV.

 

[mawool01]

I would think that you could create an adhoc wireless network with your MBP and connect your ATV to that and stream from your MBP.

You might check with your Universities IT department to see if they will allow you to register your ATV to work onliine. At my previous University here in the US we had to log onto the network to access it, however if you registered your MAC address (for xbox 360, wii, etc) you could access the network with out logging in. Its worth a shot.

 

[Peter Harrison]

I would think that you could create an adhoc wireless network with your MBP and connect your ATV to that and stream from your MBP.

If I click on the Airport icon and choose "Create Network..." it creates a network that my iPhone and iPad can detect (not any real use though apart from using the Remote app). But the ATV isn't finding any wireless network.

Is there some other way of doing it?

 

[Peter Harrison]

OK, I activated Internet Sharing in System Preferences and now it is actually finding the damn thing. So the ATV now recognises the network and it's even partially online. It won't let me play Youtube or even rent movies, but it's showing the In Theatres trailers and I can watch them so it's definitely connecting to the internet now. But still when I try to turn on Home Sharing, it says my Apple ID and password is incorrect. It's definitely correct!

 

[Peter Harrison]

Now I can stream music from the Mac to the Apple TV. And I can control this music using the Remote Apps on my mobile devices. But this all only works for music. If I play a movie or TV show, it will only show on my Mac, but the audio will go through the Apple TV. The only thing I can see wrong still is that the Apple TV doesn't have Home Sharing turned on, which must be required for video (but no audio for some reason).

But since the Apple TV needs to go online to check my Apple ID apparently (that's the only reason I can think why it says my account is wrong) it's not working.

I don't suppose I could turn on Home Sharing when I am at home with a real wireless network with full internet etc, and then it will not need to check next time when I bring it back here...?

 

[Peter Harrison]

If one of you could do a quick test for me, I'd really appreciate it.

Could you make sure you have Home Sharing activated on the Apple TV and everything is working. (This will be my situation when I go home).

Then turn the Apple TV off, and remove the internet connection from your network. The network remains on, but no internet. (This will be like when I take my Apple TV back with me).

Then turn the Apple TV back on (still no internet though) and see if you can stream video. Did Home Sharing stay on while the device was turned off? Or did it need your Apple ID and password again?

Thanks a lot if someone can help me out!

 

[jsm4182]

Now I can stream music from the Mac to the Apple TV. And I can control this music using the Remote Apps on my mobile devices. But this all only works for music. If I play a movie or TV show, it will only show on my Mac, but the audio will go through the Apple TV. The only thing I can see wrong still is that the Apple TV doesn't have Home Sharing turned on, which must be required for video (but no audio for some reason).

But since the Apple TV needs to go online to check my Apple ID apparently (that's the only reason I can think why it says my account is wrong) it's not working.

I don't suppose I could turn on Home Sharing when I am at home with a real wireless network with full internet etc, and then it will not need to check next time when I bring it back here...?

It sounds like you are streaming music using the apple tv like airtunes, this will only work for audio. To get everything on your Apple TV you should first turn on home sharing in iTunes on your computer, then you should be able to log into home sharing from your apple tv. Once all the home sharing is set up you will be able to browse your computer's iTunes content from the Apple TV.

 

[Peter Harrison]

It sounds like you are streaming music using the apple tv like airtunes, this will only work for audio. To get everything on your Apple TV you should first turn on home sharing in iTunes on your computer, then you should be able to log into home sharing from your apple tv. Once all the home sharing is set up you will be able to browse your computer's iTunes content from the Apple TV.

Thanks, but as I've said, Home Sharing won't activate on my Apple TV because it requires my Apple ID and password and it keeps telling me that's wrong, obviously because it can't get online.

 

[jsm4182]

Thanks, but as I've said, Home Sharing won't activate on my Apple TV because it requires my Apple ID and password and it keeps telling me that's wrong, obviously because it can't get online.

I was thinking the missing step was setting up home sharing on the computer first, but now am seeing that it is irrelevant, its definitely because the Apple TV is not connecting to the network properly.

Try talking to your school's IT department. At my school you could give the IT dept the MAC address of devices like game consoles and they'll allow them to connect to the network.

 

[lostom]

same same

OK, I activated Internet Sharing in System Preferences and now it is actually finding the damn thing. So the ATV now recognises the network and it's even partially online. It won't let me play Youtube or even rent movies, but it's showing the In Theatres trailers and I can watch them so it's definitely connecting to the internet now. But still when I try to turn on Home Sharing, it says my Apple ID and password is incorrect. It's definitely correct!

it's driving me mad, have just bought atv and cant use the thing, i know what my password is and it tells me it's wrong, will watch this thread with interest.

 

[Peter Harrison]

OK, mine is working, although I must say it's pretty slow.

Firstly, Internet Sharing must be enabled for the ATV to recognise the network.

Next, I went home where I have a normal broadband internet connection. There, I tried activating Home Sharing on the ATV and this time it worked and actually accepted my Apple ID and password.

I'm still at home, but I wanted to create a scenario that matches my no-internet situation at uni. So I disconnected the modem and router etc and made sure there was nothing. I also turned the ATV off since I was going to have to turn it off to take it back with me (I wanted to know if it would remember that Home Sharing was activated and not ask again for the password etc). All I had was the MBP "internet sharing" (with no actual internet) with the Apple TV. Obviously rentals and stuff didn't work, but now I could actually stream video and audio. So everything's good now.

You need to go somewhere with internet at least once just to get the Home Sharing turned on.